New contractor appointed to provide GP services at a Derry medical centre
Foyleside Family Practice will take over the management of Bridge Street Family Practice at the beginning of August
A new contractor has been appointed to provide GP services at a Derry medical practice.
The Department of Health has confirmed that the Foyleside Family Practice will take over the management of he Bridge Street Family Practice.
Almost 5,000 patients at Bridge Street will automatically register with Foyleside when it takes over services from the start of August. Both practices share the same building at Bridge Street Medical Centre.
Bridge Street's future had been in doubt after it notified the Department of Health's strategic planning and performance group (SPPG) in January that it intended to hand back its contract at the end of July.
When practices hand back their contracts, the Department of Health has six months to find new management to take over their running.
Another Derry GP practice, Racecourse Medical Centre in the Shantallow area, is also under new management after handing back its contract last December.
The Western Health and Social Care Trust has now confirmed it is the new temporary contractor for the centre after prospective new management fell though.
A Department of Health spokesperson told BBC News NI: "The trust is stepping in to provide an interim solution following the unexpected withdrawal of the GP contractor who was awarded the contract earlier this month."
The new contract took effect at the beginning of June.
"Patients at the practice do not need to register with another practice. They should continue to contact the practice as normal and will receive a letter in the coming days advising of their new GP arrangements," the spokesperson added.